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Luke takes the plunge at the Great North Swim

Last year Luke Vaughan took part in the Great
Manchester Swim but this year decided he wanted an even bigger
challenge which will help him raise money for Royal Manchester
Children's Hospital - by swimming two miles through Lake
Windermere.

On Sunday 14th June Luke Vaughan from Chadderton, Manchester is
taking the plunge by swimming two miles through Lake Windermere,
Cumbria at the Great North Swim. He is doing this to raise money
for Ward 84, the regional centre for the treatment of childhood
cancer.

In 2013 Luke's son, Alex, was diagnosed with Leukaemia, two
weeks before his 7th birthday and spent weeks at the
time on Ward 84 . Once he was on the mend dad, Luke, wanted to do
something to give back to the hospital. Last summer Luke completed
the Great Manchester Swim raising almost £500, but this year
decided to go one further by swimming two miles around England's
largest lake.

Luke says:

"The Great Manchester Swim was good fun but I feel like I have
to go bigger and better every year. I like to push myself to the
limit. However hard I train and push myself, it's nothing
compared to what these children go through on a daily basis,
without a choice. I've been training at Uswim Salford Quays and can
now do the full two miles."

The Great North Swim is Europe's biggest open water swimming
event with around 10,000 participants. Over three days,
participants of all abilities can complete a range of
distances.

Luke continues:

"If it wasn't for the tireless efforts of the doctors and nurses
at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Alex wouldn't be here
today. We spent weeks at a time on Ward 84 and witnessed, first
hand, what a difference charitable donations make from; new toys,
personalised gifts, Easter eggs, Christmas presents & so on,
the list goes on. Alex was just one boy on one ward, the hospital
sees over 220,000 patients each year so please help make every
child's stay a little easier."

"We're thrilled that Luke is going one further this year and is
taking the plunge in Lake Windermere for Ward 84. The funds raised
means that we can provide additional resources that make life a
little easier for patients and their families on the ward. We all
wish Luke the best of luck, we're sure his dedication and training
will pay off!"

Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Charity raises funds to
ensure continued excellence in treatment, care and research at the
hospital - improving the lives of thousands of children each year
across the North West and beyond.